The opening ceremony combined state-of-the-art
technology and acrobatic performances to showcase the synergy
between the three companies and countries behind the construction
and completion of the shipyard - Nalilat (Qatar) Damen Shipyards
Group (Netherlands); Keppel Marine (Singapore).

A giant windmill and replica of the merlion
(an imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body of a
fish) represented The Netherlands and Singapore respectively while
a large dhow (a traditional Arab sailing vessel) symbolised Qatar's
shipbuilding history. Meanwhile, nine flat screen panels showed
video clips of the construction progress of the shipyard.

The shipyard has been designed for the repair
and maintenance of very large LNG carriers and a wide range of
other vessels, as well as for the conversion of tankers to Floating
Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) and Floating Storage and
Offloading (FSO) units.

It is also capable of constructing a
wide variety of ships up to 120 metres in length, including:
commercial vessels (e.g. tugs, offshore supply vessels, coastal
tankers, ferries), naval and coastguard vessels, and
superyachts.

Key features of the shipyard include two large
dry docks: 400m long x 80m wide; and 360m long x 66m wide. There is
also a massive ship construction hall, 270m long x 65m wide x 45m
high, capable of building four 120m long vessels simultaneously,
completely undercover.